Wedding Styled Shoot Tips
Portland, Oregon is home to an incredibly talented and collaborative wedding community. From photographers and florists to planners, designers, and rental companies, there’s no shortage of creativity here. Last summer, we wanted an intentional way to spend time with fellow vendors, collaborate without pressure, and create something purely for the sake of creativity. So, we brought together a group of our vendor friends for a styled shoot in Battle Ground, Washington.
This styled shoot wasn’t about perfection or performance—it was about connection, experimentation, and community. No strict timelines, no client expectations, and no stress. Just a group of professionals showing up to create, learn, and support one another.
What Is a Styled Shoot?
A styled shoot is a collaborative project where multiple creatives come together to design and photograph a cohesive visual concept. According to HoneyBook, “A styled shoot is simply a collaborative effort of multiple creatives who put their talents and resources together to create a stunning visual concept to be photographed.”
While styled shoots are common in the wedding industry, they extend far beyond weddings. Styled shoots can be used for branding sessions, editorial concepts, seasonal inspiration, and marketing campaigns. For wedding vendors, they’re an incredibly valuable tool for building portfolios, refining style, and creating intentional marketing content.
Why Styled Shoots Are Valuable for Wedding Vendors
From a photographer’s perspective, styled shoots offer benefits that go far beyond pretty photos.
First, they create real opportunities for networking. Spending an entire day together allows vendors to truly get to know one another—not just through Instagram or quick wedding-day interactions, but through actual collaboration. These connections often lead to future referrals, preferred vendor lists, and stronger working relationships. When you’ve worked alongside someone in a creative setting, it’s easier to confidently recommend them to clients.
Second, styled shoots provide high-quality marketing material for everyone involved. Vendors walk away with curated images that reflect their ideal style, brand, and clientele. This content can be used across websites, social media, blogs, and submissions—helping vendors attract the kind of clients they want more of.
Finally, styled shoots allow vendors to experiment and grow creatively. For photographers, it’s a chance to test new lighting scenarios, compositions, posing techniques, and gear—without the pressure of a live wedding timeline. Keeping skills sharp benefits not only us, but our clients as well.
Why You Should Treat Styled Shoots Like a Full-Day Commitment
One of the biggest recommendations we have is this: plan to take the entire day off. Styled shoots work best when vendors are present, engaged, and available for the full experience. The conversations, collaboration, and relationship-building that happen between setups are just as important as the final images.
Being present allows vendors to support one another, understand each other’s processes, and build genuine trust. These are the relationships that lead to long-term collaboration—not just content.
10 Tips for a Successful Styled Shoot
Set realistic expectations.
Styled shoots should be inspiring, not overwhelming. Define goals early so everyone knows what success looks like.
Get creative.
This is your chance to step outside your usual work and explore new ideas.
Push yourself and try something new.
Experiment with design, color palettes, lighting, or styling you wouldn’t normally use.
Make sure everyone is on the same page.
Clear communication before the shoot prevents confusion and frustration on the day-of.
Have a backup plan for everything.
Weather, locations, timelines—always plan for flexibility.
Use real couples as models.
Working with real couples (with little to no modeling experience) creates more authentic imagery and helps photographers practice posing real clients.
Showcase all vendors equally.
Styled shoots should benefit everyone involved. Be intentional about capturing each vendor’s contribution.
Pad your timeline 2–3x more than you think you need.
Creative work always takes longer than expected—and that’s okay.
Choose photographers and videographers whose style matches your brand.
The final images should align with how you want your work represented.
Have fun.
Styled shoots are a team effort. Enjoy the process—it shows in the final result.
Styled shoots are a team effort and it’s important to make sure you have a strong team. Just like with a wedding, you should research each vendor involved before you agree to do the shoot. Make sure your style fits with the shoot and the vibe of all the vendors. We recommend using a real life couple who has limited to no modeling experience so you can get more experience posing real couples.
Final Thoughts: Styled Shoots Are About Community
Just like weddings, styled shoots rely on strong teams. Take time to research and connect with vendors before committing to a shoot. Make sure your styles align and that the overall vibe feels collaborative, not competitive.
When done thoughtfully, styled shoots strengthen relationships, elevate marketing for all vendors involved, and foster a healthier, more connected wedding industry. From a photographer’s point of view, they’re not just worth doing—they’re essential.
Vendors:
CAKES & CATERING:
Mundo Catering | @mundocatering
Tres Belle Desserts | @tresbellecookies
EVENT PLANNING & DESIGN:
A Little Grace A Little Lace | @alittlegrace.alittlelace
FLOWERS:
Poppies and Paisley Floral | @poppiesandpaisleyfloral
HAIR, MAKEUP & BEAUTY:
The Beauty Briar | @thebeautybriar
LIGHTING, ENTERTAINMENT & PHOTO BOOTH:
PAPER GOODS & CALLIGRAPHY:
RENTALS:
Peter Corvallis Productions | @petercorvallisproductions
VENUES:
Down By The Pond | @down_by_the_pond
WEDDING DRESSES:
WEDDING FILMS:
We’re Eric and Amber — a husband and wife photography team based in Portland, Oregon. We document weddings with a photojournalistic approach, capturing the real, in-between moments that tell the full story of your day. We’ll also guide you through a few timeless, fine art portraits to round it out.
Our style is true-to-life, intentional, and focused on what matters most: you, your people, and the energy of the day. We believe your photos should feel like you — not a version of you that was overly posed or filtered.
We celebrate all couples, bodies, styles, and traditions, and we’re here to help tell your story exactly as it unfolds.